Connect with us

Oregon

A rock arch, a waterfall, and sea stacks: Oregon’s Floras Lake earns every step of the hike

Published

4 weeks ago 

on

Aerial view of Floras Lake near Langlois, Southern Oregon. This lake is divided from the ocean by only a thin strip of land and is famous for its windsurfing during warmer months.
Shutterstock

It’s one of Oregon’s last truly quiet stretches

The southern Oregon coast between Bandon and Port Orford stays off most travel itineraries, and that’s exactly the point.

Floras Lake State Natural Area sits out here where Highway 101 runs miles inland and the coast stays largely to itself. About 1,500 acres of forest, meadow and lagoon separate the road from the sea.

Trails push out to a headland with a rock arch, a cliffside waterfall and sea stacks rising from the surf below.

Floras Lake.
Wikimedia Commons/Gary Halvorson

The flood that rewired this coastline back in 1890

A flood in 1890 changed the shape of this place for good. It rerouted waterways, and the New River now drains Floras Lake out toward the ocean.

The result is a landscape of layered environments, shallow lake, dense woods, open meadows, and sandy beach, all packed into a stretch of coast that’s seen almost no development since.

There’s no entry fee for the natural area, though you may pay for parking if you come in through Boice-Cope County Park.

View of the trail access bridge on the northeast end of Floras Lake, looking westward, Mar. 15, 2016, by Greg Shine, BLM. Featuring a lakefront boat ramp and hiking trails along blowing sand dunes to the windswept ocean beach and adjacent Flores Lake State Natural Area and Boice Cope County Park, the BLM's Floras Lake unit of the New River Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) offers opportunities for non-motorized, low-impact coastal recreation while protecting a variety of sensitive plants, animals, and habitat. On the BLM-managed portions of the lake’s northern end, a parking lot and boat ramp adjacent to the Boice Cope County Park campground connect visitors to kiteboarding, windsurfing, canoeing, swimming and fishing opportunities on the lake. As one of 4 units of the BLM’s New River ACEC, Floras Lake is the southernmost ACEC access point and is next to the campground at Boice Cope County Park. A new bridge over the lake’s outflow creek leads to two signed hiking trails that offer a variety of coastal experiences – and direct contact with Floras Lake’s natural wonders. Both trails are out-and-back, not loops, and begin at the trailhead on the northwest corner of the parking area, cross the bridge over the lake outflow creek, and skirt the lake’s northside foredune and pine community. Strong winds prevail in this area, as evidenced by the lake’s kiteboarders and the shoreline’s hardy, low-growing dune plants who, with shorebirds and the occasional hiker, alone thrive in such extreme conditions. For a quick hike to the beach, the short, easy out-and-back North Trail spur is the first to branch off to the right, bee lining to the surf through the windblown dunes to the northwest. For those who choose to walk along the beach, the wet sand below the tide line is the only way to avoid the restricted area protecting the snowy plover nesting grounds, but awareness of deadly sneaker waves is necessary. tragically, in the winter of 2017 this beach claimed the life of a father and infant. The moderately difficult Floras Lake Trail continues to trace the lakeshore, turning south and paralleling the lake’s west side, closest to the ocean. It was here that the lake used to open to the sea, prior to a winter storm in the late 1800s that washed up sand and closed the lake’s outlet to the ocean. It was also here that the developers in 1909 envisioned their concrete-lined canal to sea. Strong winds blow through this area on a regular basis, and the loose sandy trail can make for challenging walking. Spur trails to the west provide access to the beach – and, for those intrepid beach walkers aware and prepared for changing tidal conditions – a beachside view of the cliffs near Blacklock Point is an additional 30-minute walk away. Hikers continuing south along the lakeshore soon encounter an old road once used by the U.S. Coast Guard. It enters the Floras Lake State Natural Area, leading hikers to the state park’s trail system – including trails to the top of Blacklock Point and beyond. Fishermen casting for lake trout and racing kiteboarders fueled by afternoon winds show that, while the grand city and harbor never came to pass, the spirit of recreational use and enjoyment of Floras Lake is alive and well. -- by Greg Shine, BLM, @gregshine To ensure a safe and memorable visit, please note that: The ACEC is open for day use from sunrise to sunset. Pets must be leashed at all times. Off-road vehicles are not allowed. Pack out your trash. Avoid trespassing on private land by observing the posted signs. Portions of the sand dunes above the high tide line are set aside for nesting western snowy plovers from March 15 to September 15. Observe the rules posted on site for the restricted areas. Campfires are prohibited. Collecting mushrooms and other forest products is not permitted. For more information, please contact: Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District Office 1300 Airport Lane North Bend, OR 97459 (541) 756-0100
Wikimedia Commons/Bureau of Land Management Oregon

Ten miles of trail lead to one unforgettable headland

The trails here cover about 10 miles in total, and the main event is Blacklock Point, a wide grassy headland that pushes out over the Pacific at the end of a walk through coastal forest.

The path passes below sandstone bluffs and through stands of quiet trees before opening to that big ocean view. Trail signs are sparse, so come with a downloaded map.

Also check the tide before you head out. Part of the beach stretch closes down at high water.

Waves crashing against rock on the shore at Chijin Island, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Shutterstock

Tower Rock and the sea stacks just off the headland

Stand at the edge of Blacklock Point and you’ll see large offshore rocks scattered across the water below. Tower Rock pulls most of the attention, rising just off the headland in a clean dark column.

Castle Rock and Gull Rock sit farther out to sea.

The cliffs above give you a straight-down look at how these stacks hold their ground against the surf, and on a clear afternoon, the light cuts across the water in a way that makes the whole scene sharp.

Rock arch structure provides a view of the ocean at sunset, with ice and pebbles on the beach creating a serene coastal scene
Shutterstock

Oregon’s most shapely coastal arch sits below the cliffs

A short side trail peels off toward the cliff edge and drops your view down to a natural rock arch sitting on the beach below. The ocean carved it over time, working through the stone until only the frame remained.

It’s earned a reputation as one of the best-shaped coastal arches in Oregon.

From above, you can see it sitting among loose sand and scattered rocks, the surf pushing through and around it with every set of waves.

Close-up of falling and splashing streams of water, Ivande waterfall, Latvia
Shutterstock

A 150-foot waterfall pours straight into the ocean

Close to the point, a waterfall drops about 150 feet down a coastal cliff and lands right at the shoreline.

You can see it from the beach looking up, or catch it from a clifftop side trail looking down at where the fresh water hits the salt.

Coastal waterfalls like this don’t show up often outside of a mountain range, and this one is tall enough to hold its shape even when the wind picks up off the water.

Bluffs covered with eroded sandstone rocks on arid badlands taken at a prairie in the Cajon Pass, CA
Shutterstock

Sandstone bluffs and wind-bent trees frame the headland

The sandstone bluffs along the route carry warm, layered colors through the rock face, the kind that photograph well in any light.

Up on the headland, the trees thin out and Sitka spruce lean at hard angles where the wind has pushed them for decades. Grassy slopes open north and south with long views down rugged bluffs above the surf.

Sunsets draw visitors who time their hike to catch the light dropping into the Pacific from this open stretch of cliff.

Cape Blanco State Park Coastline
Shutterstock

On a clear day, Cape Blanco comes into view to the south

From Blacklock Point, the view south pushes toward Cape Blanco, the westernmost point on the Oregon mainland. It’s a distinctive landmark from this angle, sitting low and flat against the horizon.

Turn north and you’re looking at a wall of rugged bluffs with white water at their base.

On a clear day, the coastline stretches far enough in both directions that you can lose track of where the land ends and the clouds begin.

Tree and shrubs of the coastal forest ecosystem at Lost Lake, Mar. 15, 2016, by Greg Shine, BLM. A small freshwater lake surrounded by a peaceful coastal forest, the Lost Lake unit of the New River Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) provides a quiet, contemplative location for hiking, birdwatching, and picnicking on Oregon’s South Coast. One of approximately 20 lakes in Oregon named Lost Lake, this one features a hiking trail with scenic lakeside views and a connection to the New River through neighboring Bandon State Natural Area. The trail begins at the small parking lot and follows the southern and western sides of the lake through a mature coastal forest. The beginning of the trail is flat with a hard-packed surface; the western portion has steep sections with loose sand. The one-way distance to New River is approximately 1.5 miles. Running parallel to the Pacific Ocean for nine miles, New River is separated from the ocean by only a thin foredune of sand. Many rare birds, animals, and plants depend on New River's estuary, forest, meadow, wetland, and shrub habitat for survival. Dedicated almost exclusively to Watchable Wildlife, the area remains secluded and primitive, providing nature enthusiasts with short, rustic, self-guided loop trails to view wildlife. There are four main access points to New River ACEC: Storm Ranch, Floras Lake, Lost Lake, and Fourmile Creek. For more information, please contact: BLM Coos Bay District Office 1300 Airport Lane North Bend, OR 97459 (541) 756-0100
Wikimedia Commons/BLM Oregon & Washington

The forest floor is thick with ferns, moss and surprises

The woods on the way to the point run deep green. Sitka spruce and shore pine carry most of the canopy, and below them the ground fills with sword ferns, salal and a layer of moss that covers nearly everything.

Walk slowly and you’ll spot mushrooms pushing up through the duff, wild strawberries along the path edges, and orchids tucked in where the light reaches the forest floor.

The contrast between this shaded interior and the wide open coast at the end is part of what makes the walk work.

Rhododendron molle (Blume) G. Don subsp. japonicum. Rhododendron pink flowers
Shutterstock

Wild rhododendrons turn the whole area pink in spring

Come in spring or early summer and the rhododendrons are out.

They bloom across the forest and meadows in soft pinks and purples, with lupine and other wildflowers filling in across the headland slopes.

The rest of the year the area runs mostly in greens and grays, the colors of the Oregon coast in any season.

But from late April through June, the woods and open ground carry a brightness that you don’t see again until the following year.

Floras Lake. Curry County.
Wikimedia Commons/Gary Halvorson

Three miles of empty beach with no one else in sight

Below the bluffs, a sandy beach runs for miles. The sand is soft and uneven, more tiring to walk than it looks, and the shore fills with driftwood, scattered rocks and tide pools if you take the time to slow down.

The beach earns a reputation as one of the loneliest on the Oregon coast.

In summer, when the rest of the coast fills up, you can walk for long stretches here without seeing another person. About 10 miles of trail and three miles of open beach, and most days it stays quiet.

Wind Surfer on Floras Lake, New River ACEC. Featuring a lakefront boat ramp and hiking trails along blowing sand dunes to the windswept ocean beach and adjacent Flores Lake State Natural Area and Boice Cope County Park, the BLM's Floras Lake unit of the New River Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) offers opportunities for non-motorized, low-impact coastal recreation while protecting a variety of sensitive plants, animals, and habitat. On the BLM-managed portions of the lake’s northern end, a parking lot and boat ramp adjacent to the Boice Cope County Park campground connect visitors to kiteboarding, windsurfing, canoeing, swimming and fishing opportunities on the lake. As one of 4 units of the BLM’s New River ACEC, Floras Lake is the southernmost ACEC access point and is next to the campground at Boice Cope County Park. A new bridge over the lake’s outflow creek leads to two signed hiking trails that offer a variety of coastal experiences – and direct contact with Floras Lake’s natural wonders. Both trails are out-and-back, not loops, and begin at the trailhead on the northwest corner of the parking area, cross the bridge over the lake outflow creek, and skirt the lake’s northside foredune and pine community. Strong winds prevail in this area, as evidenced by the lake’s kiteboarders and the shoreline’s hardy, low-growing dune plants who, with shorebirds and the occasional hiker, alone thrive in such extreme conditions. For a quick hike to the beach, the short, easy out-and-back North Trail spur is the first to branch off to the right, bee lining to the surf through the windblown dunes to the northwest. For those who choose to walk along the beach, the wet sand below the tide line is the only way to avoid the restricted area protecting the snowy plover nesting grounds, but awareness of deadly sneaker waves is necessary. tragically, in the winter of 2017 this beach claimed the life of a father and infant. The moderately difficult Floras Lake Trail continues to trace the lakeshore, turning south and paralleling the lake’s west side, closest to the ocean. It was here that the lake used to open to the sea, prior to a winter storm in the late 1800s that washed up sand and closed the lake’s outlet to the ocean. It was also here that the developers in 1909 envisioned their concrete-lined canal to sea. Strong winds blow through this area on a regular basis, and the loose sandy trail can make for challenging walking. Spur trails to the west provide access to the beach – and, for those intrepid beach walkers aware and prepared for changing tidal conditions – a beachside view of the cliffs near Blacklock Point is an additional 30-minute walk away. Hikers continuing south along the lakeshore soon encounter an old road once used by the U.S. Coast Guard. It enters the Floras Lake State Natural Area, leading hikers to the state park’s trail system – including trails to the top of Blacklock Point and beyond. Fishermen casting for lake trout and racing kiteboarders fueled by afternoon winds show that, while the grand city and harbor never came to pass, the spirit of recreational use and enjoyment of Floras Lake is alive and well. -- by Greg Shine, BLM, @gregshine To ensure a safe and memorable visit, please note that: The ACEC is open for day use from sunrise to sunset. Pets must be leashed at all times. Off-road vehicles are not allowed. Pack out your trash. Avoid trespassing on private land by observing the posted signs. Portions of the sand dunes above the high tide line are set aside for nesting western snowy plovers from March 15 to September 15. Observe the rules posted on site for the restricted areas. Campfires are prohibited. Collecting mushrooms and other forest products is not permitted. For more information, please contact: Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District Office 1300 Airport Lane North Bend, OR 97459 (541) 756-0100
Wikimedia Commons/Frank Price

Floras Lake draws windsurfers and kiteboarders all summer long

The lake sits shallow with a sandy bottom, and the steady northwest winds that roll through in summer make it one of the better spots on the Oregon coast for windsurfing and kiteboarding.

The calm, shallow water also works well for families and beginners learning the basics. Kayaking and paddleboarding are easy options if wind sports aren’t your thing.

The lake and the wild coast right next to it give you two completely different experiences in one visit, and neither one requires a crowd.

Westward view of informational signs on the north side of Floras Lake, Mar. 15, 2016, by Greg Shine, BLM. Featuring a lakefront boat ramp and hiking trails along blowing sand dunes to the windswept ocean beach and adjacent Flores Lake State Natural Area and Boice Cope County Park, the BLM's Floras Lake unit of the New River Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) offers opportunities for non-motorized, low-impact coastal recreation while protecting a variety of sensitive plants, animals, and habitat. On the BLM-managed portions of the lake’s northern end, a parking lot and boat ramp adjacent to the Boice Cope County Park campground connect visitors to kiteboarding, windsurfing, canoeing, swimming and fishing opportunities on the lake. As one of 4 units of the BLM’s New River ACEC, Floras Lake is the southernmost ACEC access point and is next to the campground at Boice Cope County Park. A new bridge over the lake’s outflow creek leads to two signed hiking trails that offer a variety of coastal experiences – and direct contact with Floras Lake’s natural wonders. Both trails are out-and-back, not loops, and begin at the trailhead on the northwest corner of the parking area, cross the bridge over the lake outflow creek, and skirt the lake’s northside foredune and pine community. Strong winds prevail in this area, as evidenced by the lake’s kiteboarders and the shoreline’s hardy, low-growing dune plants who, with shorebirds and the occasional hiker, alone thrive in such extreme conditions. For a quick hike to the beach, the short, easy out-and-back North Trail spur is the first to branch off to the right, bee lining to the surf through the windblown dunes to the northwest. For those who choose to walk along the beach, the wet sand below the tide line is the only way to avoid the restricted area protecting the snowy plover nesting grounds, but awareness of deadly sneaker waves is necessary. tragically, in the winter of 2017 this beach claimed the life of a father and infant. The moderately difficult Floras Lake Trail continues to trace the lakeshore, turning south and paralleling the lake’s west side, closest to the ocean. It was here that the lake used to open to the sea, prior to a winter storm in the late 1800s that washed up sand and closed the lake’s outlet to the ocean. It was also here that the developers in 1909 envisioned their concrete-lined canal to sea. Strong winds blow through this area on a regular basis, and the loose sandy trail can make for challenging walking. Spur trails to the west provide access to the beach – and, for those intrepid beach walkers aware and prepared for changing tidal conditions – a beachside view of the cliffs near Blacklock Point is an additional 30-minute walk away. Hikers continuing south along the lakeshore soon encounter an old road once used by the U.S. Coast Guard. It enters the Floras Lake State Natural Area, leading hikers to the state park’s trail system – including trails to the top of Blacklock Point and beyond. Fishermen casting for lake trout and racing kiteboarders fueled by afternoon winds show that, while the grand city and harbor never came to pass, the spirit of recreational use and enjoyment of Floras Lake is alive and well. -- by Greg Shine, BLM, @gregshine To ensure a safe and memorable visit, please note that: The ACEC is open for day use from sunrise to sunset. Pets must be leashed at all times. Off-road vehicles are not allowed. Pack out your trash. Avoid trespassing on private land by observing the posted signs. Portions of the sand dunes above the high tide line are set aside for nesting western snowy plovers from March 15 to September 15. Observe the rules posted on site for the restricted areas. Campfires are prohibited. Collecting mushrooms and other forest products is not permitted. For more information, please contact: Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District Office 1300 Airport Lane North Bend, OR 97459 (541) 756-0100
Wikimedia Commons/Bureau of Land Management Oregon

Explore Floras Lake State Natural Area in Oregon

To reach the trailhead for Blacklock Point, head to the Floras Lake State Natural Area off Cape Blanco Road, south of Langlois on the southern Oregon coast. Parking is available near Boice-Cope County Park.

The natural area itself has no entry fee, though a small parking fee may apply at the county park. Bring a trail map, wear layers, and check the tide tables before you head out.

The Oregon State Parks website has current trail and access details.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

Related Topics:

Currently residing in the "Sunset State" with his wife and 8 pound Pomeranian. Leo is a lover of all things travel related outside and inside the United States. Leo has been to every continent and continues to push to reach his goals of visiting every country someday. Learn more about Leo on Muck Rack.

Trending Posts